LEADERS TAKEN TO TASK

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14570, 14 January 1948, Page 3

LEADERS TAKEN TO TASK

CRITICISM OF WHARF UNION OFFICIALS

SEQUEL TO LABOUR PAPER’S

CHARGE

(P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 13. Accused by the pioneer Labour daily, the Grey River Argus, of “frequently seizing any pretext for many months past to put the Government in the wrong,” ihe president of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr H. Barnes, and the secretary, Mr T. Hill, may soon visit Greymouth to challenge publicly the allegation. They are visiting the South Island this week on union business and may call a public meeting in Greymouth to enable the charge against them to be discussedi

Considerable interest, politically and industrially, is being taken in the subject, which has developed from the Cook Islands and Maui Pomare controversies.

When the Grey River Argus said in an editorial article on the Cook Islands dispute that union officials had been seizing pretexts to embarrass the Government, the .officials called on the newspaper to substantiate the allegation. They adopted the unusual course of forwarding copies of their answer to the West Coast Trades . and Labour Council and the Greymouth Waterside Workers’ Union.

The question has already assumed national proportions. With other aspects of the Cook Islands situation it was discussed at a meeting of 1800 Auckland watersiders, who expressed confidence in the union leadership. It is reported that the criticism of the union officials was described to the meeting as symptomatic of a developing political campaign. The union is emphasising that the industrial Labour movement is • a heavy contributor to funds fcr Labour publications.